Riverpark Restaurant Review

: Tom Colicchio has fashioned a sleek and unfussy dining destination in the most unlikely of locations: an office building adjacent to the FDR Drive in Murray Hill. This, combined with the restaurant’s free garage parking, creates a feeling that is puzzlingly suburban and urban at the same time. However, chef Bryan Hunt’s food presentations are anything but baffling. The complex layering of flavors in predicable Craft-like American favorites is successful. Riverpark’s own farm, adjacent to the outdoor patio, ensures that ingredients are fresh and seasonal. Roasted skate pairs with Granny Smith apples, radishes and anise hyssop, enlivened further by a Riesling Kabinett. Entrées such as grilled chicken and roasted rack of lamb complement a Merlot --- sophisticated comfort food ideal on a rainy night. Seating ranges from outdoor tables in warmer months to the main open dining room, or the more intimate café section with windows facing across the East River and towards Northern Manhattan. Cocktails pay tribute to the TV series The Wire, with names like Stringer Bell (gin and chartreuse), Bunk Moreland (rye, cherry, ginger, rosemary), and Prop Jo (Dewers, sherry, cinnamon). Desserts include homemade ice creams (try the maple), a plate of assorted cookies, and chocolate ganache cake. Situated in the Alexandria Center building, the restaurant is a bit challenging to find, and you may actually want to drive here (if you have a car) to take advantage of the free parking.